A “Not Secure” warning messages are now being displayed by Google in search results, as well as on the browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Internet Explorer, Opera, and more.

Google recently with its “HTTPS Everywhere” initiative, aims to make all websites, which people access from Google, secure as well. So, Google has included the HTTPS as ranking signal and will impact your website rankings negatively if you don’t have SSL Certificate installed.

Does your website URL is still having HTTP?

Ohhkkk…!!

Don’t worry…!!

With this post, we will give you a clear idea about the SSL certificate, why do you require SSL certificate and what are the benefits of having one for your website.

Here’s the skinny…!!!

What is SSL?

You might be aware of the term “SSL Certificate”. But do you actually know what it means?

SSL stands for “Secure Socket Layer”.

SSL basically provides the security to the visitors of the website. On the other hand, It establishes a secure connection between the client and the server computer through the secure protocol HTTPS.

The basic information of your website and website visitors like their credit card Information, usernames and passwords, and other sensitive information will be encrypted as the information is hopping between different computers before it gets to the destination server.

So, Basically,

SSL Encrypts Sensitive Information.

Next question may come to your mind is Why HTTPS? I am okay with the HTTP.

Here are the main differences between HTTP and HTTPS

HTTP

Insecure

No confidence among website visitors

Negatively affects rankings in Google Search Engine.

All communications between your browser and the website (server) are insecure.

Can be intercepted and even manipulated by third parties.

No certificate is required.

HTTPS

Secure

Instills confidence & trust

Helps to improve rankings in Google Search Engine.

All communications between your browser and the website (server) are encrypted.

Can no longer be seen or affected by third parties.

Requires SSL Certificate.

Why do you need SSL Certificate? Is it necessary?

If you sell products? – Yes, you should – If you’re accepting credit card payments directly on your website, you must have an SSL certificate to encrypt your customers’ credit card information for processing online.

If you offer to become a site member? – Yes, you should – If your website provides the site membership registration either free or paid, you must have an SSL certificate for the same.
After all, your website users that are going to become a member are giving you their personal information like their email addresses, names, and passwords. So, it’s your responsibility to provide them a secure platform, isn’t it?

If you take user sensitive information via forms? – Yes, you should – If your website visitors are submitting their personal information, documents, photos, and so on through forms or inquiry form on the website, we think, you should consider SSL to keep that information safe.

If you aim to rank higher in Google? Yes, you should- As Google is considering HTTPS as ranking signal, so you should have SSL to send the right signals back to get ranked higher.

If you only have a blog website? – No, probably not – Do you have a blog website with no products, no member registration, no credit card information required nothing except blog posts and probably a contact form, then SSL may not worth the money & effort. However, if you want your blog website to be ranked well in Google, you should consider installing SSL.

To Sum up all

To make a long story short, we have already learned that Google will give the priority to the secure websites. So, having an SSL Certificate for your website will not instill the confidence & trust among your website visitors but also will help to provide the better ranking on the search engines.